Bay Hill Club & Lodge - Championship Course

From the time you enter the property it's got Mr Palmer's imprint all over it. You must be a resort guest to play it. Practice facility is top notch. Staff and outside service are the best. The layout and routing are familiar if you watch the tournament. I reviewed 4 stars bc I thought the conditions would be better. Greens, Fairways and bunkers 8.5/10. Not sure if they had recent rains so it might have contributed to the conditions. Lodging and golf are not cheap but it checks a box.

When we pull up to the course, we’re meet immediately by the bag staff! All very pleasant and very helpful. As we made our way to the range to hit balls before the round , we picked a spot on the range next to The Kings favorite spot still “Reserved” for him! When our tee time neared we were announced by name on the first tee box! The whole experience was like being treated like a King! The course was amazing and in great condition. Treat yourself and play Bay Hill !

The course is okay, but the people who work there couldn't be ruder or more obnoxious. Pay that much money just to be treated so poorly is a crime.

Because of its longevity on the PGA Tour schedule and Tiger Woods' many wins (not to mention Arnold Palmer's influence) Bay Hill is one of America's iconic golf courses. Design-wise, it's good, not great, but the atmosphere of the place, coupled with the inherent fun in playing holes you've gotten to know from TV over the years, makes it a worthwhile experience.

I will say that the on-site Lodge, where you usually need to stay in order to play, is one of the game's coziest boutique lodgings, and the new short game facility is second to none.

Growing up in Central Florida I've visited Bay Hill since I was a child, it was a real treat to get to play myself. There are a handful of courses out there that you are prepared to play before you hit your tee shot and Bay Hill is one of those courses where you know each hole with great details in advance of playing.

The service was excellent and would make Mr. Palmer proud. The charm of the members' locker room sets you up for a great experience to bookend your round.

The course was in phenomenal shape, greens were slightly slower than expected as they were a little long in anticipation of the Tour coming to town.

I left Bay Hill Club & Lodge extremely satisfied and a round I'll remember forever.

It is always a treat when afforded the opportunity to play Bay Hill. The course was in great shape considering all of the rain in the area. Greens were quite fast as well. Pace of play was fantastic and can't wait to play again!

I received this as a gift from my wife who booked a stay and play. They have great rates on the stay and play at the moment so if you've been looking to do it, now is the time.

From the moment you step onto the grounds at the Bayhill Club and Lodge you are surrounded by Arnold Palmer golfing memorabilia and nostalgic pictures. It seems silly, but to walk the halls and see all the Arnold Palmer images/trophys and gifts that line the walls is like a tour in itself.

The practice facilities were immaculate and obviously fit for a pro, so as an Amateur I really enjoyed using the same facilities.

The Course itself is incredible, if you've watched the API on TV you'll enjoy it even more.

The 6th hole offers the challenge of playing over the water and cutting the corner with your drive, such a great hole and great views. The 17th is also a really great hole, with the bunker short of the green forming a beach with the water, it's one of the signature holes on the course. The 18th green is one you've definitely seen on Golf Channel as it's had tons of incredible moments over the years.. from Tiger's putt and celebration to Rory McIlroy's in 2018 and Molinari's this year. It was awesome to be on that green and although the pin was front left when we played I would love to play again someday when the pin is tucked away like it is on Sunday at the API.

I will be back.

I play here about every few months and I must say, out of all the golf courses I've been to, this is by far the best!

Clean grounds, friendly staff, and challenging holes!

You can't have a bad time here.

Hard course, playable at shorter tees, lots of scenery and sand. Perfectly manicured.

Writing to add to my review of Bayhill GC regarding playing on 3.13.19 to mention that I would not recommend Roger as a caddie as he didn't know the breaks on the greens as well as the previous caddie I had 2 years ago there.

My foursome played Bayhill recently on 3.13.19 just a couple days after the tournament to play on a pro course. Unfortunately, they dialed back the greens to a 10 / 11, they used Sunday pin placements, and the rough was still tough although shorter. You need to be a 10 HC or better to have fun playing here. Although we rode, a caddie was required at the cost of $140. With greens fees of $250 and $200 for a room, this is an expensive day of golf. But if you are playing well, I highly recommend it.

Had another chance to play Bay Hill last weekend with a recently joined member. The course was in good shape for the heat of the summer and the course is under-going significant upgrades including a major irrigation project along with a brand new range and short game facility as a main centerpiece around the lodge.

The layout is very familiar from previous play and from watching it on TV for so many years. The conditions were good and the greens were a bit slow, but likely a necessity given the weather.

Still a wonderful round and the presence of Mr Palmer is very much alive especially with the 15’ bronze statue on #1 tee.

The King is gone, but his legacy endures, especially at Bay Hill. The course has its own interesting history, which helps buoy a layout that is idiosyncratic in places but overall stronger than I expected. The par fives, in particular, are very strong, requiring thoughtful shot planning in order to give up birdies and better. There's more elevation change than you've noted on TV, which helps matters as well.

But Bay Hill's biggest strength is its vibe. From the perfectly understated locker room (including bar) to the Lodge rooms to the convivial arrangement of the practice facilities relative to the first and 10th tees, it's just one of those places with high intangibles, and it feels good just being there.

Let me begin by saying despite the tone of some of the following comments, this is not intended to be a negative review, just an honest assessment. Bay Hill is a bucket list course for the obvious reasons - Arnie, and the annual PGA Tour event held here. But after playing it for the first time, I can't help but wonder if Bay Hill wasn't firmly beneath Palmer's umbrella would it be a course with any buzz? There are a handful of good holes, but there seems to be one dog-leg left with water down the left every time you turn around. If you can be reasonably accurate off the tee, Bay Hill is pretty straightforward. The greens do not offer exaggerated slopes. Though they are grainy, they did not pose much too many opportunities for three-putt chaos. Greens were recovering from aeration, but were better than I expected and didn't detract too much from the round. The strength of Bay Hill lies in its excellent bunkering. Though most of the par 5s played maddeningly short, reaching them in two shots required extreme precision with long irons. Off just a bit and bunkers were there to swallow the shot up. I liked this and felt it protected the holes. Though I scored better on the outward nine, I felt the inward half was stronger, particularly the final three holes. I am eager to see how Bay Hill evolves or devolves now that Arnie is gone. The Lodge itself, though a bit dated on the outside has been largely renovated and I found my room to be quite comfortable and modern. The practice facility is excellent and you should take full advantage of it during your stay. Bottom line: If you are serious golfer, you must play Bay Hill. You will be overwhelmed by the experience, even if a bit underwhelmed at the course itself.

Had a chance to play a scramble format today at Bay Hill as part of the WLGO - World's Largest Golf Outing. The course is always a treat to play and was in solid shape. Most of the areas has made a good comeback after the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Good time with great buddies, helping support Fisher House and Arnie's Army charities.

Note for those interested in playing - generally you need to stay at the Bay Hole Lodge to play the course.

Bay Hill was certainly a bucket list course for me and it did not disappoint! Just to be able to play on a course the pros play on is a treat. We played off the yellow tees that are about 6400 yards. The pros play off 7300 yards, which is amazing when you think about it. The greens were absolutely immaculate and rolled extremely true, and the fairways were also a treat to hit off of. The four caddie that was with us was very very helpful and a pleasure to be around. I would recommend this course for the low handicap lovers of golf who want to experience a day like the pros - including the caddie who watches over your every shot and guides you through every putt on the course. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at Bay Hill, however probably won't golf here again because of the price to golf and stay - it was more less a bucket list item for me.

First off let me say that playing Bay Hill was a great experience, especially walking with a caddy. The course was fantastic and the staff was top notch. Sadly, there was a group of female member 3-4 groups ahead of us that fell almost four holes behind the group in front of them and when the ranger asked them to pick it up they told him to "put his big boy pants on and tell the non-members behind them to go eff themselves". But now back to reviewing the course because hopefully you won't get stuck behind a group like this if you come play Bay Hill. The two loops around water on the front and the back were amazing, number 6 is one of the best holes in golf and 17 and 18'with their water features and bunkers make for challenging holes. Other than the rediculously slow play we really enjoyed our time here and the course itself. It was a Top 10 experience for us and we will be back.

Truly a great test of golf. Once you play the course, it easy to see why the PGA tour stops here year after year. Tee to green, the conditioning was absolute perfection including greens that run fast and true.

There's nothing tricked up about the course, what you see is what you get. The design will make you think. Strategic bunker placements coupled with water on many of the holes makes the course challenging.

Every staff member pleasantly greeted us as if we were long time members. If you have the chance to Bay Hill, do not pass it up. Your game and strategy will be challenged in every way.

My recent trip to Bay Hill was great, as we played the course just weeks after the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the conditions were superb. The greens were running very true and the rough was still menacing in many parts of the course.

The course is a challenging one, and presents several holes that stand out visually: Nos. 6, 17 and 18 specifically. While some of the other holes can blend in a bit - 3 looks a lot like 11, 7 looks a lot like 14, and the par-3s are all of similar length - it's still a great test in terms of Florida, resort-style courses. You definitely have to think your way around many of the holes and the mix of hazards - sometimes it's water, sometimes it's trees, sometimes it's rough and bunkers - adds a fun element.

Bay Hill will always be a course where you can count on pristine conditions, and my trip was no different.